Back from Kenya
By Rev. Dr. Grace May, Director of the Women’s Institute at WCIU
Book Launch at St. Paul’s University
It was such a joy to join Dr. Jewel Hyun (President of Matthew 28 Ministries, Inc.) in Limuru to celebrate the launch of The Quest for Biblical Servant Leadership! Dr. Jewel Hyun is a mentor who has introduced me to so many leaders in Kenya over the years, including our co-editors, Prof. Philomena Mwaura (professor of Philosophy & Religious Studies in Kenyatta University) and Dr. Julius Kithinji (Head of the Timothy and Joshua School of Theology at St. Paul’s University). Due to the impactful nature of this book, our launch grew into a three-day conference from October 23-25, 2023 at St. Paul’s University, called 2023 BEAcon (which stands for Biblical Equity Africa Conference). Each day we were enriched by several authors as they taught on subjects related to their chapters.
How rewarding it was for me to teach on Paul and 1 Corinthians 11 to a room full of 70 men and women leaders, educators and pastors. One principal from an affiliate college of St. Paul’s University was so blessed that she wanted me to consider offering a course on gender and the Bible at her school. Rt. Rev. Dr. Emily Onyango, the first female bishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, a co-author of the book, also offered words of affirmation. And in answer to your prayers, Shade Atanda, a WCIU student, got her visa from Nigeria and joined us for the conference!
From left to right in photos above: Dr. Kithinji, Dr. Hyun, Dr. Muiithi, Shade Atanda, and other participants at 2023 BEAcon
Women Refugees at Amani Ya Juu
I reconnected with Dr. Lois Semenye, the Director of Spiritual Formation at Amani ya Juu, a ministry to refugee women who have fled to Kenya from different parts of the continent. In a recent Bible study on Hagar, she shared, “Hagar did not resist the rich man.” Perhaps, Hagar reasoned, “If I sleep with this man, I’ll get all the money I want. I’ll even get a name in this community.” Dr. Semenye concluded, “So that’s how she slept with Abraham.” “Now, let’s make it practical. What does this mean to us as widows, as single women, as single mothers?” And so ensued the discussion with the women at Amany ya Juu.
DayStar Faculty Colloquium
Dr. Christine Mutua and her husband, Rev. Dr. Daniel Muvengi
At the invitation of Daystar University, I gave a lecture that my WCIU colleague Dr. Joel Hamme and I have collaborated on entitled “Removing the Western Spine in Missiology.” Dr. Christine Mutua led the colloquium for the Theology and Pastoral Ministries Department, and the faculty gave exquisite responses and are eager to hold more colloquiums. After the event, Dr. Mutua, a WCIU Affiliate, invited me to a delightful Kenyan lunch at her home, where I met her daughter and husband, Rev. Dr. Daniel Muvengi (Director for Faith and Development, World Vision, East Africa Region) who has a passion to equip rural pastors with Bible training. Over the course of two weeks, I discovered Dr. Mutua to be a woman of impressive character and a teacher who shepherds her students.
While at Daystar, Dr. Mutua also introduced me to Rev. Dr. Patrick Musembi, the Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, who turned out to be an avid biblical egalitarian and wanted to see if there might be any way we might collaborate in the future.
Kenyatta University
Prof. Philomena Mwaura, a WCIU Women’s Institute Steering Committee member, graciously gave me a tour of Kenyatta University, where she teaches. Our first stop was the Centre for Gender Equity and Empowerment, which she directed for ten years. She granted me an interview about how she got involved in politics, which we will feature at the top of the year. And she introduced me to the head of her department, Dr. Tadayo Kibaba Makokha, Chairperson of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
From left to right in photos above: Dr. Makokha, Prof. Mwaura, Annah Wesaya, Nelvidge Rutta, and Dr. Jewel.
Transformational Leadership & Theology
Dr. Nancy Njagi (Africa Director for Local Leaders International) could not have been more gracious. On my last night in Kenya, she invited me to her home -- after running the half marathon -- where I met her husband and two sons, and then she treated me to dinner. A theologian and activist, she is passionate about providing contextual theological training to African leaders and seeing the transformation of the continent, which by 2025 is projected to have 760 million Christians. I am eager to learn more about her vision.
Prospective WCIU Students
I also met different individuals who are interested in possibly studying at WCIU. Let me share with you one short story.
I noticed a woman sitting by herself during dinner in the dining room where I was staying. The next morning I saw her again eating by herself, so I introduced myself and asked her what brought her to Limuru. She said that she was on a personal retreat. She asked me the same, and I mentioned that I had just given a lecture on Paul & women at St. Paul’s University. She lit up and mentioned that she had a sister who was a chaplain, who was seeking to delve deeper into the Scriptures precisely on the subject of women in leadership. So, after returning home, I WhatsApp-ed the chaplain and recommended her to take WCIU’s biblical foundations of Women & Men in Leadership. If you are interested in joining this impactful 7-week intensive course, starting January 3, 2024, taught by Dr. Lisa Sung, let us know! Click the button below and write “GWE 611” in the comment section.
I cannot express my gratitude and wonder enough at how God met me daily, as I saw the flourishing of relationships that God has grown over the years and experienced new beginnings.
Your contributions made this experience possible. Please consider supporting the Women’s Institute so that we can get a head start on the plans God has for us in the new year.
Please pray for the follow up to these amazing opportunities and others I didn’t have time to mention.
With gratitude and wonder,
Grace